Marine electric-light fixture.



' No. 706,578. Patented Aug. [2, 1902. a. L. MARTIN.

MARINE ELEGTRIG LIGHT FIXTURE. (Application filed Dec. 10, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. MARTIN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y. I

MARINE ELECTRIC-LIGHT FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,578, dated August 12, 1902.

Application filed December 10, 1900- Serial No. 391414. (No model.)

To o whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Marine Electric-Light Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to marine electriclight fixtures and switches therefor, and is designed as an improvement on the patent granted to me May 8, 1900, No. 649,250, the objects of my present invention being, first, to do away with the joints in the bracket, thereby avoiding a great deal of risk of leakage and providing a larger and more convenient passage for the wires; second, to provide a switch which can be operatedin a positive manner through a stuffing-box in the side of the outlet-box.

I attain the objects of my invention by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional View of a marine electric-light fixture constructed according to my invention and an elevation View of a switch mounted in the outlet-box. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the outlet-box detached, on an enlarged scale, and of the switch, apart of which is in section; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switch with parts removed to show the construction.

In the accompanying drawings similar numerals of reference refer to like parts in each of the views, and in the practice of my invention I provide an outlet-box 5, provided with bosses 6, 7, and 8, internal posts 9, and external lugs 10, as in my former patent, but lacking the incline-faced boss shown in my former patent.

Mounted on the box 5 by means of the screws 11 isthe bracket 12, which is cast in one piece, and consists of a base 13, a neck 14, and a head 15. The head 15 is provided with an internal integral flange 16, on which is mounted the lamp-socket 17, which is secured to the head 15 by screws 18, passing through the base of the socket and entering posts 19, integral with the head 15.

The head 15 is provided with an external screw-thread, on which is secured the lampguard 20, and is also provided with an internal screw-thread, in which is screwed the globe 21, which is screwed down into said head until it rests tightly upon the gasket 22, mounted on the flange 16. I also provide a gasket 23 between the base 13 and the box 5, so that the interior of the box and bracket is protected from water in a most effectual manner. It will thus be seen that by making the head, neck, and base in one piece I not only avoid the joints between the same, which I have found by experience were difficult to make water-tight, but also am able to make the pas sage through the neck larger without seeming to increase the size of the neck externally and make a much more attractive bracket. The passage through the neck being larger, the connection between the lamp and the switch is much more easily and quickly made, as will be readily understood. I have also found it advantageous to provide a switch which can be mounted within the outlet-box and operated through the'wall of the same or through a stuffing-box in said wall in a positive manner and without having any accumulations on the exterior of the box interfere in any way with the operation of the switch.

With this object in View I mount on the bottom of the box 5 a switch comprising a base 21, which is secured to the bottom of the box in any desired manner. On this base I mount a plate 25, which is provided with two feet and 27, which support the plate free from the base-plate and at a predetermined distance therefrom. The plate or bar 25 is provided with wings 28, which are bent downward and at right angles thereto and form the bearings for a rotatably-mounted shaft 29. Passing through an aperture in the leg or standard 26 is a shaft 30, which passes through a stuffingbox 31 in the side of the box 5, and on the inner end of the shaft I mount a block 31, having aninclined face 33, which a spring 3-1L serves to hold in contact with the shaft29. On the base 24.- I mount two plates 35 and 36, on which are mounted binding-posts 37 and 38, respectively, and on the shaft 30 I mount a block 39, which is free to rotate thereon. The shaft 30 is made in two pieces hinged together just inside of the foot 26, as shown at 40.

In operation the shaft 30 is rotated by the handle 41, and as the plate 25 is held at such a distance from the base 24: that the block 32 will be held from rising the inclined face of the block 32 will force the shaft backward against the action of the spring until the point 42 of the block 32 passes below the center plane of the shaft 29, when the spring will cause the block and shaft to spring back into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position the block 35) will contact with both plates 35 and 36 and the circuit will be closed, as will be readily understood, and when the shaft is again rotated the block 32 will again assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, while the block 39 will be raised free from contact with the plates 35 and 36 and the circuit will be broken. As the shaft 30 passes through the stuffing-box 31 and through the standard 26, it is necessary to joint the same at 40, so as to allow the inner end of the shaft to move up and down, as already described, and the shaft 28 is made rotatable, so that it Will turn when the shaft 30 is being rotated, and thereby avoid friction and wear on the end of the block 32.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very positive switch for use in conjunction with the outlet-box and one that can not be displaced by any amount of jarring and is not affected by any accumulations on the exteriorof the box. At the same time, the shaft 30 being jointed, the shaft requires no lateral play in the stuffing-box and the same can be made perfectly water-tight.

The entire construction is cheap to manufacture and very effective in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a marine electrie light fixture, the

combination with an outlet-box of a bracket secured thereto in a water-tight manner, said bracket consisting of a base, a contracted neck, and a head formed of one piece of metal, said head being provided with a socket adapted to receive a globe, a seat for a gasket beneath said globe, and a seat for alamp-socket, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a marine electric-light fixture, the combination with an outlet-box of a bracket consisting of a head, neck, and base formed of one piece of metal, said head being provided with an internal, integral flange, and with integral posts, as 19, extending from points adjacent to the neck and having the ends thereof in a plane parallel with said flange, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a marine electriclight fixture, a switch comprising a base, a plate supported thereon by legs, a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent to one of said legs, a jointed shaft passing through a stuffing-box in the outlet-box, and through the other leg, and provided at the inner end with an inclined face adapted to bear against said first shaft, a spring adapted to hold said inclined face in contact with said first shaft, a block rotatably mounted on said second shaft, and plates on said base, provided with bindingposts, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE L. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

LEON LASKI, JAMES F. DUHAMEL. 

